Stamford teacher accused of sex with student still in rehab

Stamford Advocate

Staff reports

Updated 7:46 pm, Thursday, August 21, 2014

Stamford High School teacher Danielle Watkins, 32, of Norwalk, was charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sale of marijuana and one count of risk of injury to a minor after having an alleged affair with an 18-year-old student and providing marijuana and smoking with a second 15-year-old student, according to police.
Photo: Contributed Photo

STAMFORD -- The Stamford High School teacher accused of threatening to fail an 18-year-old student if he did not have sex with her and of providing him and a friend with marijuana was unable to make her scheduled arraignment Thursday at state Superior Court in Stamford because she remains in a Danbury psychiatric hospital.

Rob Serafinowicz, the lawyer for Danielle Watkins, 32, said his client is committed to her treatment and requested permission from a Stamford judge to reschedule her arraignment for Sept. 22, which was granted. Serafinowicz said he was certain she would plead not guilty to the charges against her when she is able to come to court.

Watkins, of Fort Point Street, Norwalk, was charged by police in July with two counts each of sexual assault and sale of marijuana, and one count of risk of injury to a minor. She is free on $100,000 bond.

After her arrest earlier in July on a marijuana charge, Watkins entered Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan. Since that time, according to documents placed in her court file, she was admitted into the BlueSky Behavioral Health center in Danbury, which offers services that range from treatment of mental health problems to addiction.

A letter from a BlueSky employee to the criminal court clerk's office said Watkins checked into the facility's extended treatment program on July 17. Although BlueSky is a treatment program that addresses both mental illness and substance abuse issues, Watkins is receiving treatment to address mood and anxiety issues.

The letter also said she has been an active participant in the treatment and attends clinical groups five days a week, as well as taking individual therapy and medication management.